Adding-machine.



H. L. FISHER. ADDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1905.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908* 4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

H. L. FISHER.

ADDING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 20, 1905.

H. L. FISHER. v ADDING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE so. 1905.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

4 SHEETB-SHEET s H. L. FISHER.

' ADDING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILED mm: 30, 1905.

899,965. Patented Sept. 29, 1908. l 4 SHEE TBSHEET 4.

Waves g0 2706/ UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY L. FISHER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR-TO BURROUGHS ADDINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ADDING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that 1,,HARVEY L. FISHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, inthe county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Adding-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

.My invention relates to adding machines and the like adapted to print,list and add individual items and more particularly to the key mechanismthereof, and the object thereof is to provide means adapted to cooperatewith mechanism for detaining an operated key and locking the remainderof the keys in its row or column against operation and arranged underthe control of a predetermined one or more of the number or value keysfor releasing any one of the keys in its row after, it has been operatedor depressed, with the result that in case a wrong key has beenoperated, the same may be released and permitted to be restored bysimply operating or movingthe predetermined value key or keys in themanner hereinafter explained. The setting of the keys and the releasethereof is thus under the manual control of the operator, through themedium of the regular keys and without the employment of any additionalkeys, levers or the like for the purpose of releasing an operated key.My im ention is particularly applicable to the key mechanism of the typeof machine exemplified in the Burroughs patents os. 504,963 and 505,078,issued on September 12, 1 893 and in the present instance, for the sakeof a clear and definite description of my invention, I have shown thesame embodied in the well known Burroughs machine made in generalaccordance with said Burroughs patents, but it will be understood thatmy invention is applicable to machines of other types and other makesand that I contemplate using my invention wherever applicable. Moreoter,while I have shown my invention in connection with a multiple keybanktype of machine, yet it will be understood that it is applicable to asingle keybank or so called IO-key machine. therefore proceed todescribe my invention as applied to the well known Burroughs machinewithout intention of limiting my invention thereto, when viewed in itsbroader aspect.

I will- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevae tion of one sectionor train of the key mechanism with a portion broken away to expose theparts constituting my attachments or improvements; Figs. 2 and 3 detailviews illustrating different positions of the operating parts; Fig. 4 aplan view of the key mechanism, with the keyboard proper and keysremoved; Fig.5 a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modifiedform of construction in which the resetting of the key is under thecontrol of the 1 key; Figs. 6 and 7 detail views of such modification;Fig. 8 a plan view of a key mechanism embodying such modification, butwith the keyboard removed, and Fig. 9 a detail view illustrating anothermodification.

As is well known, the Burroughs machine is of the multiple key-bank typehaving a plurality of rows of keys representing difierent denominations,increasing from right to left, each row representing the digits 1 to 9,the 1" keys being arranged at the forward end of the keyboard and the 9keys at the upward or rearward end thereof. As shown more particularlyin Fig. 1 of the drawings, the stems 221 of the number or value keys 291pass through suitable openings or slots in the keyboard plates 212 and213 and are arranged to cooperate with a series of hell cranks 21?pivotally mounted upon the transverse rods 200. These bell cranks whichare arranged on one side of the rear wardly extending portion of theplate 210 are operatively connected (with the 6X06 tion of the bellcrank corresponding to t 1e 9 key) with a series of stop rods 270, whoseforward ends work in slots in the plate 210 in the usual and well knownmanner. Each row of keys is provided with a sliding bar or strip 214,with which the bell cranks cooperate. in such manner that when one keyin the row of keys is operated, such bar is moved rearwardly from theposition indicated in Fig. 1 to the position indicated in Fig. 2. henthe bar has been moved rear- \vardly, as stated, it is retained in suchshifted position by means of the pawl 228, which is spring-pressed bymeans of the spring 283, towards a position'of engagement. It will beunderstood that after the bar 214 has been shifted rearwardly,,by thedepression of any one key in the row of keys, all the other 9 bellcranks and keys are locked against deression, inasmuch as the solid partof the her is brofight below the shoulders 217 of the bell cranks. Inthe regular 0 eration of. a Burroughs machine, the sliding ar or bars214 which may have been operated in the listing and printing of anamount or item, are released by the forward swinging of the transverserod or bell. 202, which rocking thereof causes a movement of the pawls228 in a clockwise direction and the consequent release and, restorationof the bars 214.

Moreover, in the ordinary Burroughs machine, the rod or pawl 202 is alsounder the control of the error key which, when operated, causes asimilar'movement or swinging of the rod or shaft 202 and the release andrestoration of the slidin bars 214.

0 crate or depressed in its row of keys, with t e result that in case afigure of an item or amount set up on the keyboard is wrong, the errormay be corrected by simply operating the said predetermined value key inthe row of keys in which said wrong figure occurs, so

that the key, thus wrongly operated, is released and the keys of thatrow restored to permit the correct key to be operated, without thenecessity of releasing all of the keys representing the item or amountand setting up the entire item anew. It will be understood that-myinvention contemplates the control of the key locking mechanism by apredetermined one or more of the value keys in each row of keys, and inFigs. 1 to 4, I have illustrated one form of construction in which suchmechanism is under the control of the 9 key or keys, while in theremaining figuresI have shown a construction wherein the mechanism isunder the control of the l key or keys. It will be understood, however,aswill be obvious after the following description, that any one or moreof the keys in a row of keys may be chosen to control saidmechanism, butthe employment of either the 1 key or 9 key'will be found the moreconvenient in practice,

Referring to the embodiment of my invention, as illustrated in Figs. .1to 4 of the drawings, wherein the locking mechanism is under the controlof the 9 key or keys, 1 provide a lever 229, which is in the form of aplate pivoted upon the transverse rod 200, on which the bell crank 217,corresponding to the 9 key is hung, and position the same between suchbell crank and the side of the rearwardly extending portion of the plate210'. This late 229 is pivoted intermediate of its lengt its rearwardlyextending arm being provided with a lateral pin or stud 229 and theforwardly extending arm thereof with a lateral stud or pin 229K. Thelatter pinjis inposition to be engaged by a transverse slot 221 near thelower or inner end of the key stem of the 9 key, which ke with the plateor lever 229. The other pin or stud 229 is arranged to cooperate withthe pawl 228, corres onding to the row of keys being described and forthe pur ose of controlling the same through the me ium of'the 9' key,such pawl 228 is made slightly different than heretofore by beingprovided with an upwardly extending cam surface 228, which is arrangedto cooperate with the pin orstud 229 Normally this latter pin or stud ispositioned at the base of the cam surface or extension 228 as seen inFig. 1, but in this clockwise movement, caused by a depression of the 9key, the same is adapted to rock or swing the pawl 228 in the 'same wayas the transverse rod -202,.in the manner hereinafter explained.

ated, assuming for example the 1 key, the bar 214 corresponding to thatrow ofkeys is moved or slid rearwardly and engaged and held in suchrearward osition by 1ts pawl 228. If, now, before t emachine is operatedand before the item has been put 111130. the. machine and printed, theoperatorv should discover that the -3 key, for instance, instead of the1 key, should have been operated, he simply depresses the 9 key of thatrow of keys, with the result that the pin or stud 229 is swung upwardlyby the movement of the plate 229 in a clockwise direction and the pawl228 rocked u wardly or in a clockwise direction and the ar 214 therebyreleased. It will be understood that this depression of the 9 key forreleasing purposes is sli ht, inasmuch as the shoulder 217" of its belcrank which, as usual, has a little play, soon comes in contact with andis stopped by the. operated bar 214, but. such When any one of the valuekeys is -oper.--

therefore has a pin and slot connection movement is sufficient to swingor rock the pin 229 upwardly to a position to give the awl 228 itsgreatest degree of movement, and to thereby release the operated bar'214and permit it to be restored, as indicated in 238 for restoring action.n the regular limited amount of movement.

hereinbefore stated, thesam'egeneral result stored 'to its normalposition by its spring to locking position with respect to the o er-'-ated bar 214,

as indicated in Fig. 2, at w ich time the pin or stud 229 after passingthe effective part of the cam surface 228, has

reached an upward position where the pawl 228 is permitted to be rockedby the, tension.

of its spring 283 into locking engagement with the bar 214. Thus, whilein the depression of the 9 key the pawl 228 is rocked away from lockingposition, it is permitted to return to that position at or before thebell crank 217 reachesits fulloperated condition, so that the bar 214 isengaged in the.

same manner as though one of the other value keys was operated.

In the event that the 9 key was deressed by mistake and it is desiredtoreease that key, the operator simply pulls the key upwardly from theposition indicated in Fig. 2, with the result that the lever or plate229 is rocked in an anticlockwise direction and the pawl 228 released bycontact of the pin or stud 229 against the effective part of the camsurface 228' at which time the sliding bar 214, together with the bellcrank 217 of the 9 key will return to normal position, whereupon theproper key of that row may be operated.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the key releasemechanism of each row of value keys is under the control of One' ofthose keys, such controlling key in the referred embodiment of myinvention, bemg the 9 key, which may be operated in the usual manner,that is simply depressed, with the result that the operated key may bereleased, or if the 9" key is the one to be released the same may berestored by simply pulling it upwardly. Moreover, it is immat erialwhether the touch on the controlling key be light-or heavy, as it has aslightand can be accomplished in another manner and by the operation-ofa value key other than connection between'such key and the pawl 228. Asshown in the drawings, this connection comprises a sliding release bar230, which is located and has its bearing against one side of therearwardly extending portion of the plate 210 and near the upper edge ofthe latter and below the lower keyboard However, as;

plate 212. Ordinarily, the stems of the value keys have only sufficientopening in the keyboard plates 212 and 213 to permit of the straight upand down movement, but in the present instance I provide these openingsor slots of sufficient length for the 1 key (or keys in case of amultiple key-bank type of machine) to permit the latter to be rockedrearwardly from the normal position indicated in full lines to theposition indicated Ln dotted lines in Fig. 6. For the purpose f shiftingthe release bar 230 when the 1 key -is rocked rearwardly as described,such bar is provided at its forward end with a laterally extendinglug-230, which is arranged in the path of the movement of the lower orinner end of the key stem of the 1 key,

with the result that the release bar is shifted from itsnormalcposition, indicated in full lines to the shifte or dotted lineposition indicated in Fig. 6, whenever the 1 key is rocked rearwardly,this'movement taking place against the tension of the spring 230*.

The other or rearward end of the release bar 230 is arranged tocooperate with and to control the pawl 228 and for this.purpose such endof the bar is provided with a lateral extension orlug 230 arranged inthe path of movement of an upward extension 228? on the pawl 228;forward sliding of the release bar, itsrearward end orlug 230? willengage the extension 228 of the pawl 228, and will rock the latter in aclockwise direction, with the result that in case'the sliding bar 214has been operated and retained by its pawl 228, the

same will be released and be permitted to be restored to a normalposition. .The pawl 228 is thus rocked by the release bar to the dottedlineposition indicated inFig. 6, in the same manner as rocked by thelever or plate 229, according to the first described 'construction.Assoon as the pressure of the operators finger on the --.1 key isreleased, the release bar is restored to normal position by. itsspring"230 and- -the pawl 228- is re- 283. In practice, assuming forexample that an 8 key has'b'een operated, as shown in It is evident thatupon the I Fig. 7, the bar 214 is shifted rearwardly and 1 engaged byits pawl 228, but in the event that the operation of this key was. anerror, the operator simply rocks rearwardly the 1 key in the same row asthe erroneously operated key and thereby causes a release of the pawland a restoration of the different parts to the normal-position, asindicated in Fig. 5, 'with the resultthat the correct key may beoperatedwithout restorin all of the operated keys on the keyboard. hile,according to this particularconstruction, it is desired to employ the 1key, yet it is obvi-,

ous that the release bar 230' may be opera- .tively connected with anyone or more. of the value keys in the row of keys, so that such bar maybe shifted by rocking one of the other value keys in such row.

The particular construction illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 involve therocking of the 1 key, but it is possible to control the proper operationof the release bar by the movement of the 1 key in the usual manner,that is by movement, straight up and dorm, to which end the constructionor modification illustrated in Fig. 9' may be adopted. ,According tothis modification, the stem of the 1 key has a pin and slot connectionwith therelease bar 230, the forward end lug beingdispensed with. Asshown in the drawings, therelease bar is provided with. a.pin or stud230, while the stem 221 of the 1 key is provided with an angular slot221". ()bviously, upon the first movement or depression ofthe 1 key thebar 230 is moved forwardly, owing to the oblique inclination of thelower end of the slot 221 with the result that the pawl 228 is rockedupwardly when the 1 key is at or about its middle point of depression.After the upper end of the slot 221', which is reversely inclined ascompared with the lower end of the slot, is presented to the pin230 therelease bar and its pawl 28 are permitted to be restored to normalposition, with the result that such pawl will lock the bar 214 in itsposition as operated or shifted by the 1 7 key. This describes the usualor full movement of the 1 key, but assuming thatone of the other keys inthe row of keys has been erroneously depressed and such key or its bellcrank locked by the bar 21% and it is desired to release such-operatedkey,'the o erator simply depresses the 1 key s ightly, amountingpractially to a half depression thereof, until the bar 230 is caused tobe shifted forwardly in the manner explained, whereupon the pawl 228 isreleased from its engagement with the bar 214 and the latter, as well asthe operated bell crank and the erroneously depressed key, permitted tobe restored to normal position, after which the proper key may beoperated or depressed. Thus, in all the forms herein illustrated andabove described, the locking and detaining mechanism, which serves todetain the operated key of each row in depressed condition and to lockthe remainder of the keys in such row in normal or raised condition andagainst operation, is under the control of a predetermined value key,with the result that by the operation of such key such mechanism may beactuated and an erroneously operated key permitted to be restored tonormal, all the keys int-hat row thenbecoming normal, ready for thedepression of the proper key.

I claim: 1. In an adding machine, the combination of a series of valuekeys, and means for detaining an operated key ofsuch series in operatedcondition and simultaneously interposing an obstruction to the fulloperation of the remainder of the keys, independent movement of a keyoperating said detaining means to release any detained key and removethe obstruction to the operation of other keys. j

2. In an adding machine, the combination of a row of value keys, andmeans for detain-- ing an operated key of such row in operatedcondition. and simultaneously interposing an obstruction to the fulloperation of the remaining keys of the row, independent movemeniot a keyoperating said detaining means to release any detained key and removethe UbSLl'UCllOll to the operation of other keys of the row. i

3. Inan adding machine, the combination of arow of value keysrepresenting the digits 1 to 9, and means normally operating to detainan operated key of such row and to interpose an obstruction to the fulloperation of the remainder of the keys, independent movement of the 9key operating said detailiing means to release any detained key andremove the obstruction to operation of other keys of the row.

4. In an adding machine, the combination with a series of "alue keys, ofmechanism for detaining a key in operated condition and under thecontrol of a single one only of said keys.

5. In an adding machine, the combination, Willi a row of value keys, ofmechanism for detaining a key in operated condition and under thecontrol of a single one only of the keys of said row of keys. 7

6. In an adding machine, the combination, with a row of value keys, ofmechanism for desaining key in operated condition and .under ihc controlof a predetermined one of the keys of said row of keys.

7. In an adding machine, the combination with a row of value keysrepresenting the digits 1 to 9, oi mechanism under the control of the 9key for locking and retaining a key in operated mmdltimi and underthe-control oi the S1 key alone.

8. In a multiple key-bank adding machine, the combination, with aplurality of rows of value keys of different denominations, of mechanismfor detaining a key or keys in oper: ed condition and under the controlof a single one only of the keys of each row.

9. In a multiple key-bank adding machine, the combination, with aplurality ofrows of value keys of dill'crent denominations, of mechanismfor detaining a key or keys in operated condition and under the controlof a single corresponding key only of each row of keys.

10. In a multiple key-bank adding machine, the combination, withlaplurality of rows of value keys of diilerent denominations, each rowrepresenting the digits 1 to 9, of mechanism for detaining a key or keysin operated condition and under the control of the 9 key only of each ofthe rows of he cooperating with said keys, a pawl or detent for holdingor detaining said bar in looking position, and an operating connectionbetween said pawl and the 9 key of said value keys.

13. Inan adding machine, the combination, with a series of value keys,of mechanism for retaining a key in operated condition, means operatedby a movable part of. the machine for restoring said mechanism to normalposition, and thereby releasing the operated 'key, and supplementalmeans under the control of one of said keys only for restoring saidmechanism and releasing the operated key.

14. In an 'adding machine, the combination, with a plurality of rows ofkeys of different denominations, mechanism cooperating with each row ofkeystor retaining a key or keys in operated condition, means operated bya movable part of the machine for restoring said 'mechanisms to normalposition and thereby releasing at a single operation all the keysoperated in the different rows, and supplemental means, one for each rowof keys, for independently controlling the mechanisms of theirrespective rows of keys, said supplemental means correspond ing to eachrow being under the control of one only of the keys of that row.

15. In an adding machine, the combination, with a series oi value keys,of a shirtable bar cooperating therewith, a pawl or detent for detainingsaid bar in shifted or looking position, and a pivoted lever operativelyconnected with the pawl'and the stem of one of said keys.

16. In an adding machine, the combination, with a series of value keysrepresenting the digits 1 to 9, of a shi'ltable bar cooperatingtherewith, a pawl arranged adjacent the 9 key and adapted to detain saidbar in shii'ted or looking position, and a pivoted letger operativelyconnected with the pawl and. the stem of the 9 key.

17. In an adding machine, the combination, with a series of value keys,representing the digits 1 to 9, of a shiftable bar cooperatingtherewith, a pawl arranged adjacent the 9 key and adapted to detain saidbar in shifted or locking position, said pawl being arranged to rock andhaving a cam surface, and a pivoted ie'" 3 o tively connected with thestem of the 9 it y and arrangedto cooperate with said cam surface torock the pawl and thereby release the bar. 1

18. In an adding machine, the combination, with a series of value keysrepresenting the digits 1 to 9, of a shiftable bar cooperatingtherewith, a pawl arranged adjacent the 9 key, and adapted to detainsaid bar in shifted or looking position, and a pivoted lever operativelyconnected with the stem ofv the 9 key, said pawl being arranged to rockand having a curved cam surface con-' tacted by said lever and of acontour to cause the pawl tobe rocked away-from and back again toengaging or detaining position.

19. In an adding machine, the combination, with a series of value keysrepresenting the digits. 1- to 9, of a shifta'ble bar cooperat ingtherewith, a pawl arranged adjacent the 9 key and adapted to detain saidbar in shifted or looking position, and a pivoted lever operativelyconnected with the stem of the 9 key and having a pin. or stud, saidpawl being arranged to rock and-having a curved cam surface in the pathof movement oisaid pin and of a contour to cause the pawl to be rockedaway from and return to engaging or detaining position.

20. In an adding machine, the combination, with a series of value keysrepresenting the digits 1 to 9, of a shiftable bar cooperatingtherewith, a pawl arranged adjacent the 9-key and adapted to detain saidbar in shifted or looking position, and a lever pivoted intermediate itslength-and at one end operatively connected with the stem of the 9 keyand at its other end having a pin or stud, said pawl having a curved camsurface in the path of movement of said pin or stud and of a contour tocause the pawl to be rocked away from and returned to engaging ordetaining position.

21. In an adding machine, the combination, with a series of value keysrepresenting the digits 1 to 9, of a sliiitable bar cooperatingtherewith, a pawl arranged adjacent the 9 key and adapted to detain saidbar in shifted or looking position, and a lever piv oted intermediateits length and at one end having a pin and slot connection with thelower end oi the 9 key and at its other end having a stud, said pawlhaving a cam sur face in the path of movement 01 said stud, whereby thepawl controlled by said lever and said 9 key.

22. In a machine of the character described, a series of independentlydepressible keys, a detent common tosaid keys for holding any one oi"the same depressed, and means for locking other keys against depressionwhile any one of them remains depressed and so held by said detent, withprovisions provisions for releasing the depressed key and for displacingthe detent and unlocking the unlocking the other keys by limited manipu-10 keys bylimited nlilanipulfation ofhone of theni. lation of one ofthem.

23; n a mac ine o t 1e 0- aracter e- 5 scribedya series of independentlydepressible HARVEY FISHER keys, and means for automatically looking aWitnesses: depressed key against returning and looking J ESSE G.VINCENT,

the remaining keys against depression, with ALVAN MAOAULEY.

